Giants 2020 NFL Draft Mailbag: How serious is Dave Gettleman about trading back?

Plus, would the Giants take a tackle over Isaiah Simmons?

4/9/2020, 11:32 PM
May 11, 2018; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman on the field during rookie minicamp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday. Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY SPORTS / Danielle Parhizkaran
May 11, 2018; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman on the field during rookie minicamp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday. Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY SPORTS / Danielle Parhizkaran

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The sports world may be on hold, but not the NFL, which is still full-steam ahead in free agency and preparing for the upcoming NFL draft.

That includes, of course, the Giants, who still have a ton of questions to answer over the next few weeks and months. Here are a few you submitted to SNY (and because there were so many, this is only Part I):


How serious is Gettleman considering moving back in the first round? - cnanas16 (via Instagram)

It's hard to say how "serious" he is without knowing if there are even any offers yet. He's definitely interested, though. He knows he can drop a couple of spots and still end up with the same player he would've taken at 4. Plus, because of the quarterbacks, he's in a power position. Anyone who wants either Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa or Oregon's Justin Herbert knows they need to jump over the Dolphins (at 5) and Chargers (at 6). Those teams might want to move up, too.

If one of those teams call, I think he'd do it. What I don't think he's serious about is dropping very far - like out of the Top 10. He thinks the talent is too great at the top of the draft to trade too far down-unless, of course, it's an offer he can't refuse.

 

As much as Gruden likes his QBs, I wouldn't be surprised if the Raiders make a move up for Tua. What do you think about No. 4 in exchange for the Raiders' 12th, 18th picks? Giants still get one of the top 4 OTs at 12 and then could add an edge rusher like Chiasson at No. 18. - @allend22 (via Twitter)

From the Giants' perspective, that seems like a no-brainer to me. I don't know if the Raiders would really give up both their mid-first-round picks in a deal. But if they did, how could the Giants not jump at that offer?

I'd assume you're right, that at least one of the Big Four tackles would still be there at 12. That would be the key. It wouldn't be their top choice, but it would still be a good one. And then, yes, the Giants could get the edge rusher they so badly need at 18. LSU's K'Lavon Chaisson would be a perfect pick in that spot. I'm not sure there's another one worth taking that high, though.

So I think that would be a great deal for the Giants. I just don't think it will be offered.

If the Giants go tackle in the first round, what edge rushers could be left at No. 2 that would be worth the position? And if, conversely, they take Simmons, what OT might be worth that high second round pick who could be left? -- @ethanjsacks (via Twitter)

It's always hard to guess at the second round, because at some point in the first there'll be an unexpected run at a position. But I'll try to take a guess anyway.

If the Giants take an offensive tackle at No. 4, they're going to have to hold their breath to find a worthy edge rusher at No. 36. The best of the second tier - LSU's K'Lavon Chaisson, Iowa's A.J. Epenesa - will probably be long gone. Players like Penn State's Yetur Gross-Matos and Wisconsin LB Zach Baun will be close, but I'm not sure they'll make it that far. They may have to look to the next tier for someone like Notre Dame DE Julian Okwara.

And if they take Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons at 4, I'd say it's a virtual lock they take an offensive lineman at 36. Maybe Houston's Josh Jones or Boise State's Ezra Cleveland are still on the board then, but I tend to doubt it. They might find better value at center at that point, especially if ether Michigan's Cesar Ruiz or LSU's Lloyd Cushenberry are still there. One of them should be.

Do you think drafting a OT at #4 is more important than drafting Isaiah Simmons - tjdemetrio (via Instagram)

I do. I absolutely do. And I say that knowing that Simmons appears to be the fan's choice at 4. He's a dynamic defender that would be a great addition to a defense lacking in dynamic defenders. It's hard to argue with that player if the Giants choose him.

But my goodness, one of the first things Gettleman said when he took over as GM was how he had to fix the offensive line and he's just done a terrible job doing it. I've been screaming this for years, how they aren't going to win or be a good offense no matter what quarterback or weapons they have if the line continues to be atrocious. I think I've been proven correct in that, too.

So they need to rebuild the line. In fact, I'd argue they should go tackle at 4 and center at 36 and then worry about other positions. The line stinks. Their two tackles (Nate Solder and Cam Fleming) likely won't be here in 2021. They don't have a good center. All that has to be fixed. They've got a lot of offensive weapons and a good, young quarterback. If they can protect Daniel Jones and block for Saquon Barkley, they can win.

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Other than resigning (Markus) Golden, are there any other potential free agents we might see the Giants sign prior to the draft? -- @simpson_Jennie (via Twitter)

Are the giants done in free agency, if not who is someone [they're] interested in, keeping an eye on? - @GiantsVidal1027 (via Twitter)

I think the Giants are basically done making free-agent moves - at least any that are significant. They only have about $10 million in salary cap space, by my calculations, and Gettleman will need some of that for draft picks and he wants to keep some of it as an in-season reserve. So he's not inclined to go out and spend more.

And that includes spending on Golden, I think. Unless his asking price drops significantly, I don't see the Giants bringing him back. I think they signed Kyler Fackrell to be Golden's replacement, and they think that's a bet that will pay off even better than their bet did on Golden last year. Golden probably had a shot to come back, but after registering 10 ½ sacks while playing on a one-year, $3.75 million, prove-it contract in 2019, he was looking for a heck of a lot more than the Giants were willing to pay.

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